McKenna challenges Brennan

Gold Coast coach Guy McKenna has challenged mercurial utility Jared Brennan to prove why he should not be traded at the end of the year after he was dropped for the second time this season.

The 28-year-old will be forced to watch his team-mates tackle Carlton from the Metricon Stadium grandstands on Saturday night following a poor six-kick display against Hawthorn last weekend.

Demonstrating the depth of his fall from grace, Brennan cannot make the Suns side at a time when an injury crisis has claimed 20 of his teammates.

Brennan, who was selected by Brisbane with the number three pick at the 2002 draft before joining Gold Coast as an uncontracted signing for their inaugural season, now faces an uncertain future.

It is the second time McKenna has axed Brennan - he did the same after a below-par performance in the Suns' Round 7 loss to Greater Western Sydney.

And while he is not officially on the trade table, the coach said it is up to Brennan to show why he deserves to stay at the club.

"If he wants to be (traded), that's the question you need to ask him," McKenna told reporters.

"He'll determine that - whether he gets back into the side and remains at the footy club, because of his passion and intensity and ability to play football for the next two weeks.

"He gets to choose that. They end up picking themselves in the side or out of the side."

McKenna said the club still values Brennan's ability but had no choice but to drop him on this occasion.

"He was disappointed, and so he should be," he said.

"You have to do it sometimes. He hasn't been meeting our expectations as a player.

"We understand how good Jared can be, he finished sixth last year in our best and fairest. We know he can play.

"Because of the nature of our list, we've been able to afford blokes a bit more latitude in the side - but there comes a point in time where we need to jumpstart someone's football.

"We've explored all the other options (but) after doing every other thing we think possible, the only solution is to drop a player."

Brennan has played 17 games for Gold Coast this year but has failed to hold down a spot despite being played in every position - as a forward, as a defender, in the middle and even as a pinch-hitting ruckman.

But McKenna rejected suggestions he has become a victim of his own versatility.

"I think it's an advantage for him, more than a disadvantage, the fact that he can compete in all three areas," he said.

"That's the beauty about Jared Brennan but in his current state, he's not producing.

"We had the conversation with Jared - intensity and passion, it doesn't matter where you play.

"He's clearly had opportunities to show that, he just hasn't shown it on a consistent basis."

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